SDG 9.3 Knowledge and innovation

Knowledge is essential: for the economy on the one hand, and to develop solutions to the urgent issues facing humanity on the other. This third dashboard for SDG 9 focuses on public and private sector investment in knowledge, technological developments and access to ICT and the internet.
  • The Netherlands is investing more money and manpower in R&D. Total and private R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP and the number of hours worked per capita both show upward trends. The Netherlands is in the top EU27 group in terms of total and private R&D expenditure
  • Gross fixed capital formation in tangible assets is no longer growing but has become stable. This investment is low in the Netherlands compared with countries for which data were available. The trend in investment in ICT is no longer downward
  • The number of Dutch scientific publications per capita is increasing steadily, while the number of patent applications per capita is decreasing. The Netherlands ranks high in the EU on both indicators.

Dashboard and indicators

SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure: knowledge and innovation

Resources and opportunities

2.3%
of GDP in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
7th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
R&D expenditure
0.7%
of GDP in 2022
9th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Public expenditure on R&D
1.6%
of GDP domestic product in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
7th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Private expenditure on R&D
16.4%
of gross domestic product (current prices) in 2023
14th
out of 14
in EU
in 2022
Gross fixed capital formation in tangible assets
3.5%
of gross domestic product in 2023
5th
out of 14
in EU
in 2022
Investment in ICT
4.4
hours worked per capita in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
6th
out of 16
in EU
in 2022
Hours worked in R&D

Use

3,721
publications per million of the population in 2022
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
6th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Scientific publications
228
PCT patent applications per million population in 2022
The long-term trend is decreasing (decrease well-being)
5th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Patents
40%
of enterprises with more than 10 employees in 2020
Technologically innovative enterprises

Outcomes

€ 147
per hour worked (2015 prices) in 2022
7th
out of 12
in EU
in 2022
Physical capital stock
€ 10.72
per hour worked (2015 prices) in 2022
4th
out of 12
in EU
in 2022
Knowledge capital stock

Subjective assessment

7.4
score on a scale of 1-10 (10 = complete confidence) in 2021
Trust in science B)
SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure: knowledge and innovation
Theme Indicator Value Trend Position in EU Position in EU ranking
Resources and opportunities R&D expenditure 2.3% of GDP in 2022 increasing (increase well-being) 7th out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Resources and opportunities Public expenditure on R&D 0.7% of GDP in 2022 9th out of 27 in 2022 Middle ranking
Resources and opportunities Private expenditure on R&D 1.6% of GDP domestic product in 2022 increasing (increase well-being) 7th out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Resources and opportunities Gross fixed capital formation in tangible assets 16.4% of gross domestic product (current prices) in 2023 14th out of 14 in 2022 Low ranking
Resources and opportunities Investment in ICT 3.5% of gross domestic product in 2023 5th out of 14 in 2022 Middle ranking
Resources and opportunities Hours worked in R&D 4.4 hours worked per capita in 2022 increasing (increase well-being) 6th out of 16 in 2022 Middle ranking
Use Scientific publications 3,721 publications per million of the population in 2022 increasing (increase well-being) 6th out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Use Patents 228 PCT patent applications per million population in 2022 decreasing (decrease well-being) 5th out of 27 in 2022 High ranking
Use Technologically innovative enterprises 40% of enterprises with more than 10 employees in 2020
Outcomes Physical capital stock € 147 per hour worked (2015 prices) in 2022 7th out of 12 in 2022 Middle ranking
Outcomes Knowledge capital stock € 10.72 per hour worked (2015 prices) in 2022 4th out of 12 in 2022 Middle ranking
Subjective assessment Trust in science B) 7.4 score on a scale of 1-10 (10 = complete confidence) in 2021

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

This third dashboard for SDG 9 focuses on public and private sector investment in knowledge, technological developments, and access to ICT and the internet. Knowledge can be converted into new technology and processes, which in turn can be used to improve products and production processes and make them more sustainable. But knowledge also has sociocultural and intrinsic value. In this respect it is important that both the government and the private sector invest in knowledge accumulation, to develop ICT and other technology further and increase the stock of knowledge capital. Another important aspect is access to knowledge, where the internet plays an essential role.

Resources and opportunities include money, manpower and infrastructure to develop, share and apply knowledge and innovation. Three of the six indicators are moving towards a higher level of well-being.

Use concerns produced knowledge, implemented innovation and knowledge networks.

Outcomes concern the extent to which new technology and knowledge are embedded in capital goods. The stock of capital goods (machinery, equipment and other means of production) is calculated per hour worked. Both the stock of physical capital and that of knowledge capital show neutral trends. The Netherlands is in the middle group of the EU ranking for both indicators.

Subjective assessment relates to trust in science and innovation. The Rathenau Institute measures trust in science every three years, but too few data were available to calculate a trend for this indicator in the period 2016-2023. According to the most recent measurement in 2021, trust in science was 7.4 on a scale of 1 to 10.